AutoMotion Blog

General Motors Partners with AT&T for OnStar 4G LTE Connectivity

At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, General Motors announced that it is partnering with AT&T to deliver 4G LTE connection speeds in select 2015 model-year vehicles. For now, GM confirms only that the majority of its Chevrolet lineup will offer the new OnStar 4G LTE connection in the United States and in Canada, with additional models to be announced later, but when one of those vehicles is the 2015 Chevrolet Spark, it's a good bet that the Buick, Cadillac, and GMC lineups will also have the feature.

"Chevrolet is expected to implement the broadest deployment of 4G LTE in the automotive industry," said Alan Batey, senior vice president of Global Chevrolet. "The fact that OnStar with 4G LTE will be available in models that range from the Chevrolet Spark to the Silverado to the Corvette is indicative of our broad commitment to deliver more value and convenience through smart technology applications."

GM vehicles equipped with the new technology will enable their owners to connect their smartphones, tablet computers, and laptop computers to the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, accessing a high-speed 4G LTE network. The hotspot accommodates multiple devices, and GM promises a more consistent and powerful connection than a typical smartphone can deliver.

In connection with the new OnStar 4G LTE system, Chevrolet announced the new AppShop, accessed through MyLink systems that have active access to the 4G LTE network. "The built-in 4G LTE connection will allow our vehicles to be updated with the latest software and apps. This means that the driver's vehicle infotainment systems can keep getting better after purchase as customers can continue to add on and customize their features," said Mary Chan, president, GM global Connected Consumer.

To browse the Chevrolet AppShop, vehicle owners can choose the appropriate icon on their MyLink system's screen, download them to the vehicle, and then organize, update, or delete them as desired, just like with a smartphone. Among the apps planned at launch are iHeartRadio, Slacker Radio, TuneinRadio, and NPR, as well as The Weather Channel, Cityseeker, Glympse, Kaliki, and Priceline.

Chevrolet says the first of its models to offer OnStar 4G LTE and access to the Chevrolet AppShop will be the 2015 Corvette, Impala, Malibu, and Volt. Later, the system will be added to the Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Spark, and Spark EV. Service plans and prices will be announced at a later date.